NEW ORLEANS, La. – SMU's Serena Shah had her first top-20 finish of the season, tying for 17^th at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate. Shah carded a final-round 74 to lead the women's golf team and finish in the top-20 at English Turn Golf and Country Club for the second straight year.
 
Shah, who finished a career-best T-3^rd at this event in 2020, had two birdies in each of her two rounds, helping her get to +11 for the tournament. Shah finished T-27^th in the Mustangs' previous event, the Maryb S. Kauth Invitational, and has finished in the top 30 five times in her career. She's the fifth different Mustang to record at least one top-25 finish this season.
 
The Mustangs finished ninth with a score of +58, shooting +16 in the final round. Nebraska won the event at +20, and the Huskers' Kate Smith was the only woman under par, winning medalist honors at -1.
 
Lauren Chappell bounced back in a similar fashion to Shah, putting an opening-round 81 behind her to tie for a season-best 38^th at +16. Chappell signed for a 4-over 76 Tuesday, playing the front nine of the par 72 / 6,280-yard course at even par.
 
Kennedy Pedigo had a team-high three birdies on Tuesday to shoot 78 and tie for 40^th at +17. She tied Shah for the team lead with six birdies in the tournament.
 
Ashley Chow and Maddi Olson each tied for 45^th at +19, with Olson carding a 2-over 74 in the final round. Olson, who played as an individual, played her last 34 holes of the tournament at even par, rising from a tie for 79^th in the standings. Chow's 76 was her best round of the tournament Tuesday, as she played the front-nine at a bogey-free -1.
 
Katie James tied for 61^st at +23, shooting an 81 in the third round.
 
The Mustangs return to action March 28-29 at Lantana (Texas) Golf Club for The Bruzzy, hosted by North Texas.